Chainsaw won’t cut on both sides of the bar

[spudulike]

One thought is that perhaps the saw has been fitted with a 1.6mm gauge bar and full chisel chain....it may explain the lack of power.

Perhaps some images of the laser etched part of the bar that lists the pitch gauge and drive links and a pic of the chain my give us some clues.

[pleasant]

Spud, I am pretty certain the bar mount for a Stihl bar that takes a 1.6mm gauge chain will be too big for the MS231 and the adjuster pin will not locate either.

[spudulike]

4 minutes ago, pleasant said:

Spud, I am pretty certain the bar mount for a Stihl bar that takes a 1.6mm gauge chain will be too big for the MS231 and the adjuster pin will not locate either.

You are probably right, it was just a random thought and my own feeling on this one is that it is probably something pretty silly.

Unfortunately I have been here before, someone with a loose bar that wouldn't clamp up. He had measured everything and technically, his measurements and other info proved that what he was experiencing was impossible. After around 6 pages of thread....we found his measurements had been made with the famous elastic measurement device!!! I had walked out after page 3

[pleasant]

Yup.....another I had was a guy was complaining no matter how much he tried, after adjusting the chain...correctly he said, after the first cut the chain would loosen right up. Told him to bring it in which he did, I said 'show me how you tension the chain then' He proceeded to do everything correctly.....until before tightening the cover nuts he didnt take the weight of the power head by the end of the bar, consequently as soon as he was putting any pressure on the bar in first cut, the bar would slip upwards slightly thus slackening off the chain, before having further upward movement halted by underside of the front bar stud in the mount.

 

Showed him how to do it and he never came back with that issue again.

 

Like i said in an earlier post.....it's a lot easier to come to a conclusion after you've seen the machine AND the operator.

Edited December 22, 2022 by pleasant

[Canal Navvy]

Been wondering what length bar is on the saw, poor thing could be being expected to do the work of one of its bigger brothers. 🤔 

[pleasant]

11 hours ago, Canal Navvy said:

Been wondering what length bar is on the saw, poor thing could be being expected to do the work of one of its bigger brothers. 🤔 

The longest OE bar from stihl that will fit the 231 is the 18" off the 251. Recommended bar length for the 231 is 16" although for occasional use it will cope with the 18" just, even so, it will cut effectively on both upper and lower rails.  The extra 2" wont highlight the issues the OP has.

Edited December 23, 2022 by pleasant

[spudulike]

Not sure where the OP has gone....not got much feedback on our various suggestions........never mind, smile and move on

[pleasant]

It's always nice to know though isn't it? Not from a points scoring perspective, but just knowing we have helped to some degree.

Edited December 23, 2022 by pleasant

[waterbuoy]

At least he has kept peeps distracted for a couple of days - it isn't as if there is anything else going on at present!

[spudulike]

I do like it when we have had a success and get some appreciation back. There is a wealth of info between us and it is good to know we have made a difference.